Method of cleaning heat exchangers or tube bundles using a cleaning station

ABSTRACT

A system, apparatus and method of cleaning tubes of a heat exchanger or a tube bundle that includes disengaging the heat exchanger or bundle from a use-position in a process or a plant; moving the heat exchanger or bundle to a cleaning station remote from the use-position; positioning the heat exchanger or tube bundle in front of a cleaning apparatus; providing water jet cleaning equipment on the cleaning apparatus; responding to programming in a computing device and controlling the water jet cleaning equipment and a cleaning operation; providing a pattern of tube openings defined in an end plate of the heat exchanger or bundle to the computing device; actuating the water jet cleaning equipment with the computing device; and manually or automatically performing a cleaning operation with the water jet cleaning equipment under control of the programming of the computing device and by following the provided pattern of tube openings.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/942,945, filed Jul. 30, 2020 (entitled “ROTARY TOOL WITH SMARTINDEXING”); which is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/265,387 filed Feb. 1, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,747,238,which is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/155,340filed Oct. 9, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,599,162; which is aContinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/689,483 filed Aug.29, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,401,878; which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/381,390, filed Aug. 30, 2016.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/155,340 filed Oct. 9, 2018, now U.S.Pat. No. 10,599,162, is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 15/689,572, filed Aug. 29, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,408,552, whichclaims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.62/381,390, filed Aug. 30, 2016.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/689,483 filed Aug. 29, 2017, nowU.S. Pat. No. 10,401,878, is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/204,265 filed Mar. 11, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No.10,265,834, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/821,433 filed May 9, 2013.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/689,483 filed Aug. 29, 2017, nowU.S. Pat. No. 10,401,878, is also a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/204,350 filed Mar. 11, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No.10,040,169, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/821,433 filed May 9, 2013.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/689,483 filed Aug. 29, 2017, nowU.S. Pat. No. 10,401,878, is also a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/204,451, filed Mar. 11, 2014, now abandoned,which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.61/821,433 filed May 9, 2013.

The entire disclosures of the above-listed applications are allincorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

The present disclosure is directed generally to equipment and a methodof cleaning heat exchanger tubes. More particularly, the disclosurerelates to a water-jet cleaning system and a method of setting up andoperating the same using a smart indexing controller. Specifically, thedisclosure is directed to a system, apparatus, and method for cleaningheat exchangers that includes disengaging the heat exchanger or tubebundle from where it is used in a process in a plant and moving the heatexchanger to a permanent cleaning station located remote from where theheat exchanger is located during use. At the cleaning station, water jetcleaning equipment is permanently set up and is operable by an operatorusing a computing device programmed with specialized programming whichcontrols the water jet cleaning equipment and controls the cleaningoperation. After cleaning, the heat exchanger or tube bundle is returnedto the location where it is used in a process.

BACKGROUND Background Information

Heat exchangers typically include a tube bundle, i.e., a plurality ofindividual tubes that are operably engaged with each other and areencased in a cylindrical outer shell. An end of each tube terminates inan end plate that is secured to the tubes. The tube bundle is insertedinto the bore of the outer shell and rim or flange secures the end plateto the shell. The end plate defines a plurality of openings therein andeach of these openings permits access to the bore of one of the tubes inthe tube bundle.

After a heat exchanger has been used for some time the bores of the heatexchanger tubes tend to become partially or completely blocked withmaterial deposited therein by steam travelling through the tubes. Itbecomes necessary to clean this accumulated material from the tube boresfrom time to time so that the heat exchanger continues to operateefficiently. The typical way of cleaning these tube bores is by bringingwater jet cleaning equipment to the location of the heat exchanger inthe plant or factory. The water jet cleaning equipment is actuated todirect a high pressure fluid-jet into the bore of each tube in the heatexchanger and blast away the built-up materials. After the heatexchanger is cleaned, the water jet cleaning equipment is removed fromproximate the heat exchanger, and the heat exchanger is put back intouse.

Heat exchangers are used in various processes in different types ofplants. In some of these processes and plants, it is only needful toclean the heat exchangers every few months or even only once a year. Inother settings, however, it is necessary to clean the heat exchangersfrequently, possibly once or twice every week, or two. Moving andsetting up water jet cleaning equipment this frequently is laborintensive and time consuming. This is particularly true in processes orplants, such as in chemical processes or plants, where multiple heatexchangers may be utilized in the process.

One of the issues when cleaning heat exchanger tubes with a highpressure water-jet is that the high-pressure stream of water has to bedirected accurately into the opening of each tube. If the water-jet isnot in the correct location relative to the perimeter of the opening inthe end plate, not only will the tube fail to be scoured clean ofbuilt-up material but the water-jet may be deflected through contactingpart of the end plate surrounding the tube opening. The deflectedwater-jet may seriously injure the operator of the water jet cleaningequipment or cause damage to other objects in the vicinity of the heatexchanger simply because of the pressure under which the water is beingdelivered through the lances/nozzles on the cleaning system. The tubesin a heat exchanger tube bundle are typically arranged in such a mannerthat the openings in the end plate tend to form a pattern. The patternand spacing of these openings tends to vary from one heat exchanger toanother. Additionally, the diameters of the openings in the end plates(and the diameters of the tubes in the shell) may vary from one heatexchanger to the next. It is therefore problematic to have to repeatedlyset up water-jet cleaning equipment so that it is able to accuratelydirect a water jet into the tube openings of any particular heatexchanger. In the past, a substantial amount of time-consuming manualadjustment was necessary to repeatedly set up a cleaning system to makesure that the tubes of different heat exchangers would all be adequatelycleaned.

SUMMARY

The cleaning system, cleaning apparatus, and method disclosed herein isdesigned to make it relatively quick and easy to set up and cleanmultiple heat exchangers in an efficient and safe manner.

A system, an apparatus and a method of cleaning tubes of a heatexchanger or a tube bundle of a heat exchanger is disclosed herein. Themethod includes disengaging the heat exchanger or tube bundle from ause-position in a process or a plant; moving the heat exchanger or tubebundle to a cleaning station remote from the use-position; positioningthe heat exchanger or tube bundle in front of a cleaning apparatus atthe cleaning station; providing water jet cleaning equipment on thecleaning apparatus; responding to programming in a computing device(where the computing device is part of the cleaning apparatus, or is ahand-held device such as a tablet or smartphone, or the computing deviceis in a location remote from the plant or cleaning station). Theprogramming in the computing device is configured to control the variousequipment for moving the heat exchanger or tube bundle, and forcontrolling the water jet cleaning equipment and other equipmentnecessary to make the water jet cleaning equipment function. Theprogramming is used to perform a cleaning operation using the water jetequipment. The method includes providing a pattern of tube openingsdefined in an end plate of the heat exchanger or the tube bundle to thecomputing device; actuating the water jet cleaning equipment orassociated equipment with the computing device; and manually orautomatically performing a cleaning operation with the water jetcleaning equipment under control of the programming of the computingdevice and by following the provided pattern of tube openings. Thecomputing device is operated by an operator who is able to control thecleaning operation in real time using the computing device.Alternatively, the operator is able to initiate an automatic cleaning ofthe heat exchanger or tube bundle using the computing device. Thecomputing device may include a deadmans switch that is substantiallycontinuously contacted by the operator. Releasing the deadmans switchwill automatically shut down the water jet cleaning equipment and thecleaning operation. The operator is able to activate pumps and valves atthe cleaning station or in related equipment, where the pumps and valvesare operatively engaged with the water jet cleaning equipment and withthe delivery of a high pressure jet of cleaning fluid during performanceof a cleaning operation.

In one aspect, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure mayprovide a method of cleaning tubes of a heat exchanger comprisingdisengaging a heat exchanger or a tube bundle from a use-position in aprocess or a plant; moving the heat exchanger or the tube bundle to acleaning station remote from the use-position; positioning the heatexchanger or the tube bundle in front of a cleaning apparatus at thecleaning station; providing water jet cleaning equipment on a supportassembly of the cleaning apparatus; responding to programming in acomputing device and controlling the water jet cleaning equipment and acleaning operation using the water jet cleaning equipment; providing apattern of tube openings defined in an end plate of the heat exchangeror the tube bundle to the computing device; actuating the water jetcleaning equipment with the computing device; and performing a cleaningoperation of the heat exchanger with the water jet cleaning equipmentunder control of the programming of the computing device and byfollowing the provided pattern of tube openings.

In another aspect, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure mayprovide a cleaning station for cleaning heat exchanger or tube bundlescomprising a cleaning apparatus provided at a location remote from aheat exchanger that is to be cleaned, wherein the cleaning apparatusincludes a support assembly; water jet cleaning equipment substantiallypermanently mounted on the support assembly, wherein said water jetcleaning equipment is adapted to be operatively engaged with a supply ofcleaning fluid, and wherein said water jet cleaning equipment isconfigured to deliver a high pressure jet of cleaning fluid therefrom;and a computing device provided with programming to control the waterjet cleaning equipment and to control a performance of a cleaningoperation with the water jet cleaning equipment; wherein the programmingof the computing device is adapted to control the cleaning operation ofthe heat exchanger once the heat exchanger has been moved from theremote location to proximate the cleaning apparatus.

In one embodiment, the programming of the computing device may beconfigured to learn a pattern of tube openings to tubes provided in theheat exchanger or the tube bundle and to control a lance of the waterjet cleaning equipment to follow the learned pattern. In one embodiment,the cleaning station may further comprise a pattern of tube openings totubes in the heat exchanger or the tube bundle provided to or stored inthe computing device, wherein the programming of the computing devicemay be configured to control a lance of the water jet cleaning equipmentto follow the provided or stored pattern. In one embodiment, theprogramming in the computing device may be configured to move a lance ofthe water jet cleaning equipment along one or both of an X-axis and aY-axis. In one embodiment, the programming in the computing device maybe configured to move a lance of the water jet cleaning equipment alonga rotary path. In one embodiment, the programming in the computingdevice may be configured to move a lance of the water jet cleaningequipment along one or more of an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis.

In one embodiment, the cleaning station further comprises a userinterface provided on the computing device; wherein the user interfaceincludes a touch screen; and a plurality of selectable options providedon the user interface, wherein at least one of the plurality ofselectable options corresponds to a function to be performed by acomponent of the water jet cleaning apparatus; and wherein one or moremovements of a fingertip of a human operator on the at least one of theplurality of selectable options on the touch screen controls one of thecleaning operation of the water jet cleaning apparatus and theperforming of the cleaning operation with the water jet cleaningapparatus; wherein the programming is configured to learn a pattern of aplurality of spaced apart openings in an end plate of a heat exchanger;and wherein the programming is configured to move a nozzle of an indexerfrom one of the plurality of spaced apart openings in the pattern toanother of the plurality of spaced apart openings upon fingertip contactwith one of the plurality of selectable options on the touch screen.

In one embodiment, a lance of the water jet cleaning equipment may beoperatively engaged with the support assembly and is adapted to beconnected to a remote water source. In one embodiment, the lance mayhave at least a first degree of freedom and a second degree of freedomrelative to the support assembly; and the programming in the computingdevice may be operable to control movement of the lance relative to thesupport assembly. In one embodiment, the first degree of freedom may berotation of the lance about an axis oriented at right angles to amounting plate secured to the support assembly. In one embodiment, thesecond degree of freedom may be linear motion of the lance in one of afirst direction towards the mounting plate and a second direction awayfrom the mounting plate.

In another aspect, and exemplary embodiment of the present disclosuremay provide a system for cleaning one or more heat exchangers or tubebundles, said system comprising a cleaning station provided at alocation remote from a plant or process utilizing the one or more heatexchangers or tube bundles; a cleaning apparatus provided at thecleaning station, said cleaning apparatus comprising a support assembly;water jet cleaning equipment substantially permanently mounted on thesupport assembly, wherein said water jet cleaning equipment is adaptedto be operatively engaged with a supply of cleaning fluid, and whereinsaid water jet cleaning equipment is configured to deliver a highpressure jet of cleaning fluid therefrom; a computing device providedwith programming to control the water jet cleaning equipment and tocontrol a performance of a cleaning operation using the water jetcleaning equipment; and at least one transportation device configured tomove the one or more heat exchangers or tube bundles from the remotelocation to the cleaning station, and, after the cleaning operation hasbeen performed, to move the one or more multiple heat exchangers back tothe remote location.

In one embodiment, the system further includes a pattern of tubeopenings defined in an end plate of each of the one or more heatexchangers and tube bundles provided to the computing device; whereinthe programming controls the performance of the cleaning operation bymoving one or more lances of the water jet equipment according to thepattern of tube openings. In one embodiment, the programming in thecomputing device may be configured to move a lance of the water jetcleaning equipment along one or both of an X-axis and a Y-axis. In oneembodiment, the programming in the computing device may be configured tomove a lance of the water jet cleaning equipment along a rotary path. Inone embodiment, the programming in the computing device may beconfigured to move a lance of the water jet cleaning equipment along oneor more of an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A sample embodiment of the disclosure is set forth in the followingdescription, is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctlypointed out and set forth in the appended claims. The accompanyingdrawings, which are fully incorporated herein and constitute a part ofthe specification, illustrate various examples, methods, and otherexample embodiments of various aspects of the disclosure. It will beappreciated that the illustrated element boundaries (e.g., boxes, groupsof boxes, or other shapes) in the figures represent one example of theboundaries. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that insome examples one element may be designed as multiple elements or thatmultiple elements may be designed as one element. In some examples, anelement shown as an internal component of another element may beimplemented as an external component and vice versa. Furthermore,elements may not be drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic top plan view of a first embodiment of asystem, apparatus and method for cleaning heat exchangers or tubebundles utilizing a permanent cleaning station located a distance from aplant where the heat exchanger or tube bundle is typically used;

FIG. 1A is a diagrammatic top plan view of a second embodiment of asystem, apparatus, and method for cleaning heat exchangers or tubebundles utilizing a permanent cleaning station located a distance from aplant where the heat exchanger or tube bundle is typically used;

FIG. 2A is a diagrammatic side elevation view showing the cleaningapparatus of FIG. 1 being used to clean a heat exchanger and showing anoperator seated in a cab of the cleaning apparatus and controlling acleaning operation using water jet cleaning equipment provided on thecleaning apparatus using a computing device;

FIG. 2B is a diagrammatic side elevation view the cleaning apparatus ofFIG. 1 being used to clean a heat exchanger and showing an operatorstanding a distance away from the cleaning apparatus and controlling acleaning operation using the water jet cleaning equipment provided onthe cleaning apparatus using a hand-held computing device;

FIG. 3A is a rear elevation view of an exemplary first embodiment of thewater jet cleaning equipment provided on the cleaning apparatus, wherethe view is taken along line 3A-3A of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3B is a rear elevation view of an exemplary second embodiment ofthe water jet cleaning equipment provided on the cleaning apparatus,where the view is taken along line 3A-3A of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 4A is a side elevation view of an exemplary third embodiment of thewater jet cleaning equipment provided on the cleaning apparatus; is adiagrammatic side elevation view showing a second embodiment of thecleaning apparatus that is provided with a third embodiment of the waterjet cleaning equipment thereon; and showing an operator seated in a cabof the cleaning apparatus and controlling a cleaning operation usingwater jet cleaning equipment provided on the cleaning apparatus using acomputing device; and

FIG. 4B is a front elevation view of the cleaning apparatus and thewater jet cleaning equipment taken along line 4B-4B of FIG. 4A.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a diagrammatic top plan view of afirst embodiment of a system, method, and apparatus in accordance withthe present disclosure. The system, generally indicated at 10, includesa cleaning station 12 that is permanently set up for cleaning heatexchangers 14, at least one transportation device 16, and a plant 18where the one or more heat exchangers 14 are typically used in a processof some type. For example, the plant 18 may be a chemical plant thatutilizes heat exchangers 14 in a chemical process, and because of thechemical process in which the heat exchangers 14 are used, the tubes inthe heat exchanger tubes may need to be cleaned frequently. For example,the tubes of the heat exchanger2 14 need to be cleaned frequently, e.g.every few days or every week or two.

Cleaning station 12 may be provided in the same facility as the plant18. Alternatively, cleaning station 12 may be provided at anotherlocation that is not in the same facility as the plant 18 but is closeenough for it to make economic sense for heat exchangers 14 (or the tubebundles thereof) to be disconnected from their typical use-positions andtaken to the cleaning station 12 for cleaning. (In other words, the heatexchangers 14 are moved to the cleaning station 12 instead of water jetcleaning equipment being brought to the plant 18 and cleaning the heatexchangers 14 in situ.)

Although not illustrated herein, it will be understood that the heatexchangers 14 utilized in system 10 preferably are operatively engagedin the process/machinery of plant 18 utilizing a quickconnect/disconnect mechanism. In some instances, the entire heatexchanger 14 (i.e., outer shell with the tube bundle engaged therein)may be disengaged from its use-position and moved to the cleaningstation 12. In other instances, the tube bundle and end plate may beremoved from inside the outer shell of the heat exchanger 14 and onlythe tube bundle with attached end plate will be moved to the cleaningstation 12. It will be understood that in the following description theterm “heat exchanger” should be understood to mean either the entireheat exchanger or only the tube bundle and end plate.

As mentioned above, system 10 includes one or more transportationdevices 16 that move the heat exchanger 14 between plant 18 and cleaningstation 12. In some instances, the transportation device 16 is capableof moving the entire heat exchanger 14 or the extracted tube bundle andend plate between plant 18 and cleaning station 12. In other instances,the transportation device 16 itself is capable of extracting the heatexchanger or the tube bundle and end plate and then moving the heatexchanger or tube bundle and attached end plate between the plant 18 andcleaning station 12.

In FIG. 1, transportation device 16 is represented as a flatbed truck.The truck is diagrammatically represented as being equipped with acradle 16 a which will effectively support and retain a single heatexchanger 14 thereon. It will be understood that cradle 16 a, because itis designed to adequately support and retain heat exchanger 14 thereon,is configured to be complementary to the heat exchanger 14 it designedto hold. Since heat exchangers 14 typically include a generallycylindrical outer shell, it will be understood that cradle 16 a may begenerally U-shaped when viewed from the rear end of the truck. Heatexchanger 14 will be seated in the U-shaped arms or support base of theU-shaped cradle 16 a.

In other embodiments, transportation device 16 may be a speciallydesigned, dedicated vehicle that's sole purpose is extracting andtransporting heat exchangers 14. In this dedicated vehicle, the cradle16 a may include a mechanism that is capable of pivoting and/or beingraised or lowered relative to the truck bed. The cradle 16 a may furtherinclude a forklift type mechanism that may be utilized to extract a heatexchanger from its use-position in a plant or process, or may beutilized to replace a heat exchanger into its use-position in the plantor process.

Cleaning station 12, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2A through 3B,includes a translation assembly 20 for supporting and/or moving aplurality of heat exchangers 14. Cleaning station 12 further includes acleaning apparatus 22 that is located proximate a portion of thetranslation assembly 20 and is oriented at right angles to translationassembly 20. The translation assembly 20 includes an input end 20 a andan output end 20 b and the cleaning station 22 is located somewherealong the translation assembly 20 between the input and output ends 20a, 20 b. Translation assembly 20 is illustrated as including a pair oflaterally spaced-apart rails 24 a, 24 b. (It will be understood that inother embodiments only one rail may be provided and in other instancesmore than two rails will be provided.) Rails 24 a, 24 b are mounted on aplatform 24 c (FIG. 2A) that is located a distance above the groundsurface “S”. A conveyor mechanism 26 is operatively engaged with therails 24 a, 24 b and is configured to receive and hold one or more heatexchangers 14 thereon. Platform 24 c is provided so that heat exchangers14 on the translation assembly 20 are held at a desired height “H” offthe ground surface “S”. Raising heat exchangers 14 the height “H” offthe ground surface “S” helps to ensure that an operator “P” is betterable to observe a cleaning operation in progress from cleaning apparatus22 without unnecessary discomfort or strain. It will be understood thatin other embodiments, the platform 24 c may be omitted from thetranslation assembly 20. The conveyor mechanism 26 may include anysuitable type of heavy-duty conveyor capable of holding and moving oneor more heat exchanger 14 thereon.

Translation assembly 20 may further include a suitable lifting mechanismfor lifting a dirty heat exchanger 14 off transportation device 16 andonto the conveyor mechanism 26 and for lifting a cleaned heat exchanger14 off the conveyor mechanism 26 and placing it back onto transportationdevice 16. One suitable lifting mechanism is a gantry crane. In FIG. 1,for example, a portion of a hoist mechanism 28 for a gantry crane isshown engaged with a dirty heat exchanger 14 at the input end 20 a ofthe translation assembly 20. Another portion of a hoist mechanism 28 fora gantry crane is shown engaged with a cleaned heat exchanger 14 at theoutput end 20 b of the translation assembly 20. It will be understoodthat in other instances, the transportation device 16, itself, willinclude a lifting mechanism for the heat exchanger and therefore alifting mechanism will not be required as part of the translationassembly 20.

During use of system 10 a dirty heat exchanger 14 is removed ause-position in the plant 18 and, as indicated by arrow “A”, is loadedonto transportation device 16. Transportation device 16 moves in thedirection indicated by arrow “B” to input end 20 a of translationassembly 20 where the dirty heat exchanger 14 is unloaded onto conveyor26 of translation assembly 20. Conveyor 26 of translation assembly 20progressively moves the dirty heat exchanger 14 from input end 20 atowards a cleaning position directly in front of the cleaning apparatus22. This is indicated by arrow “C”. Once the dirty heat exchanger 14 isin the cleaning position directly in front of cleaning apparatus 22, thecleaning apparatus 22 is activated and a cleaning operation isinitiated. (This will be further described later herein.) Heat exchanger14 is thoroughly cleaned by cleaning apparatus 22 while being supportedon conveyor 26. As soon as the cleaning operation is over, conveyor 26is activated to move the cleaned heat exchanger 14 towards the outputend 20 b of translation assembly 20 as indicated by arrow “D”. At outputend 20 b, the cleaned heat exchanger 14 is lifted off conveyor 26 andloaded back onto transportation device 16. Transportation device 16moves in the direction of arrow “E” back to the plant 18. At the plant18, the cleaned heat exchanger 14 is removed from the transportationdevice 16, as indicated by arrow “F”, and is reinstalled in itsassociated use-position. Heat exchanger 14 is then available for useonce again in the process performed by the plant 18.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, multiple heat exchangers 14 may be stacked ontranslation assembly 20 and be progressively moved to the cleaningposition in front of the cleaning apparatus 22 and then on to the outputend 20 b of translation assembly for progressive removal andtransportation back to the plant 18. This arrangement makes for moreefficient and economical cleaning operation of multiple heat exchangers14.

It will be understood that, in some embodiments, a cradle component oflifting mechanism 28 may be left in engagement with each heat exchanger14 as that heat exchanger is moved through system 10. In other words,the cradle component is engaged with the dirty heat exchanger 14 at somepoint between being extracted at the plant 18 and being lifted offtransportation device 16 and onto the translation assembly 20. Forexample, the cradle component may be engaged with the dirty heatexchanger 14 when the same is placed onto the transportation device 16and is then removed from the heat exchanger 14 once cleaned and afterthe heat exchanger 14 is loaded back onto the transportation device 16.Alternatively, the cradle component may only be removed once the cleanedheat exchanger 14 is delivered back to the plant 18. Still further, thecradle component may only be engaged with the dirty heat exchanger whenit arrives on the transportation device 16 at the input end 20 a of thetranslation assembly 20.

FIG. 1A shows a second embodiment system 10A where a different type oftransportation device 16 is utilized and the translation assembly isomitted from the system. In this instance, the transportation device 16is capable of extracting a dirty heat exchanger 14 (or tube bundle andend plate) from plant 18 (as shown by arrow “A”), the transportationdevice 16 moves toward the cleaning station as indicated by arrows “B”and “C” and is itself positioned at the cleaning position in front ofcleaning apparatus 22. Before transportation device 16 reaches (or whenit reaches) the cleaning position, transportation device 16 rotates heatexchanger 14 through 90° as indicated by arrow “G1” so that the heatexchanger is in the correct orientation to be cleaned by cleaningapparatus 22. After heat exchanger 14 is cleaned, the transportationdevice 16 rotates heat exchanger 14 through 90° once again so that heatexchanger 14 is aligned with a longitudinal axis of transportationdevice 16 once again. This second rotation of heat exchanger 14 isindicated by arrow “G2”. Transportation device 16 moves back towardplant 18 as indicated by arrow “E” and then the cleaned heat exchanger14 is removed from transportation device 16 and is installed back in itsuse-position in plant 18 (indicated by arrow “F”).

Referring now to FIGS. 2A through 3B, an exemplary first embodiment of acleaning apparatus 22 is illustrated. Cleaning apparatus 22 comprises aframe 30 that includes a base 30 a which stands on the ground surface“S”. The base 30 a may be fixedly secured to the ground surface “S” byanchor bolts, for example, or may simply rest upon ground surface “S”.In yet other embodiments, a plurality of wheels may be provided on base30 a to allow the cleaning apparatus 22 to be moved across the groundsurface “S”. The frame 30 includes a platform 30 b that is retained adistance above the base 30 a by a plurality of beams 30 c. A cab 30 d isprovided on platform 30 b. Cab 30 d includes a control station 30 e anda seat 30 f for the operator “P” to sit on adjacent to the controlstation 30 e. Control station 30 e includes a computing device 32including a display screen 32 a and a user interface 32 b.

Platform 30 b extends outwardly beyond cab 30 d in one or moredirections and various components of the cleaning apparatus 22 may beprovided on platform 30 b or other parts of frame 30. By way of exampleonly, a hose reel assembly 34 is provided on platform 30 b. A first hose36 extends between hose reel assembly 36 and a remote water source 38. Asecond hose 40 extends between hose reel assembly 36 and water jetcleaning equipment 42 that is substantially permanently installed oncleaning apparatus 22 on a support assembly 30 g that is part of frame30. Support assembly 30 is utilized to secure water jet cleaningequipment 42 to cleaning apparatus 22 in a correct position in order toeffectively clean heat exchanger tube 14. Support assembly 30 g extendsupwardly beyond the upper surface of platform 30 b and is providedforwardly with respect to cab 30 d and proximate a front end of theplatform 30 b. As illustrated, support assembly 30 g comprises laterallyspaced apart vertical members 30 h, 30 h′ that extend upwardly fromplatform 30 b. A horizontal member 30 h″ extends between upper ends ofthe vertical members 30 h, 30 h′. Strengthening plates 30 j are providedwhere vertical members 30 h, 30 h′ connect to platform 30 b and tohorizontal member 30 h″. It will be understood that the illustratedframe 30 and support assembly 30 g are exemplary only and that any othersuitable frame and support assembly may be provided cleaning apparatus.

As is well known in the art and has been discussed earlier herein, heatexchanger 14 includes a cylindrical outer shell 14 a that defines a boretherethrough. A plurality of tubes are arranged in a bundle and thebundle is received in the bore of outer shell 14 a. A single tube 14 bof the tube bundle is illustrated in FIG. 2A. Each tube 14 b in the tubebundle terminates in an end plate 14 c (FIG. 3A). The bores of thevarious tubes in the tube bundle are accessible through openings 14 c′defined in the end plate 14 c. A connector ring 14 d is utilized tosecure the tube bundle and attached end plate 14 c within outer shell 14a. The connector ring 14 d is secured to outer shell 14 a by a pluralityof bolts 14 e.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure any suitable typeof water jet cleaning equipment may be substantially permanentlyattached to cleaning apparatus 22. For example, FIGS. 2A and 3A show afirst exemplary type of water jet cleaning equipment 42 that is able tobe secured by at least brackets 42 a, 42 b to support assembly 30 g. Oneexample of suitable water jet cleaning equipment 42 is described in U.S.Pat. No. 10,747,238 (Gromes et al.) which is incorporated herein byreference.

Water jet cleaning equipment 42 is operatively engaged withcommunication device 32 and/or control table 30 e. This operativeengagement between water jet cleaning equipment 42, communication device32, and/or control table 30 e may be wireless or hard wired. Water jetcleaning equipment 42 is also operatively engaged with the remote watersource 38 via the various hoses 36, 48, and the hose reel assembly 34(if the hose reel assembly is provided). Hose reel assembly 34 and/orwater source 38 may also be operatively engaged with communicationdevice 32, and/or control table 30 e. In some embodiments, translationassembly 20 is also operatively engaged with communication device 32and/or control table 30 e. In accordance with an aspect of the presentdisclosure, a cleaning operation utilizing water jet cleaning equipment42 is activated, controlled, monitored, and deactivated by the operator“P” utilizing the communication device 32 (shown in FIG. 2A) orutilizing a hand-held communication device 44 (shown in FIG. 26).

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, communicationdevice 32 or hand-held communication device 44 is provided withprogramming that is specially configured to activate, control, monitor,and deactivate the various pieces of equipment utilized in theperformance of a cleaning operation. One suitable program uploaded intocommunication device 32 or hand-held communication device 44 is marketedunder the tradename “THE LUNCH BOX™” (Terydon Incorporated of Navarre,Ohio, US). A range of different suitable types of water jet cleaningequipment and methods of using a wireless or hard-wired communicationdevice 32, 44 programmed with THE LUNCH BOX™ have been disclosed anddescribed in detail in several patents and patent applications allcommonly owned by Terydon Incorporated. These applications include:

-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/943,032, filed Jul. 30, 2020    (entitled “ROTARY TOOL WITH SMART INDEXER”;-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/942,945, filed Jul. 30, 2020    (entitled “ROTARY TOOL WITH SMART INDEXING”);-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/776,770 filed Jan. 30, 2020    (entitled “INDEXER, INDEXER RETROFIT KIT AND METHOD OF USE    THEREOF”);-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/776,741, filed Jan. 30, 2020    (entitled “INDEXER, INDEXER RETROFIT KIT AND METHOD OF USE    THEREOF”);-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/737,150, filed Jan. 8, 2020    (entitled “LANCE CLEANING SYSTEM WITH MOVABLE SUPPORT”);-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/524,279, filed Jul. 29, 2019    (entitled “INDEXER, INDEXER RETROFIT KIT AND METHOD OF USE    THEREOF”);-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/520,589, filed Jul. 24, 2019    (entitled “INDEXER, INDEXER RETROFIT KIT AND METHOD OF USE    THEREOF”);-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/265,387 filed Feb. 1, 2019, now    U.S. Pat. No. 10,747,238 (entitled “INDEXER, INDEXER RETROFIT KIT,    AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF”);-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/155,340 filed Oct. 9, 2018, now    U.S. Pat. No. 10,599,162 (entitled “INDEXER, INDEXER RETROFIT KIT,    AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF”);-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/689,572, filed Aug. 29, 2017,    now U.S. Pat. No. 10,408,552 (entitled “INDEXER, INDEXER RETROFIT    KIT, AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF”);-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/689,483 filed Aug. 29, 2017, now    U.S. Pat. No. 10,401,878 (entitled “INDEXER, INDEXER RETROFIT KIT,    AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF”);-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/997,035, filed Jan. 15, 2016    (entitled “MECHANISM FOR REMOTELY CONTROLLING EQUIPMENT”);-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/204,554, filed Mar. 11, 2014,    (entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USING AN APPLICATION TO CONTROL    OPERATION WITH A DEADMAN SWITCH”);-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/204,451, filed Mar. 11, 2014,    now abandoned (entitled “MECHANISM FOR REMOTELY CONTROLLING WATER    JET EQUIPMENT”);-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/204,350 filed Mar. 11, 2014, now    U.S. Pat. No. 10,040,169 (entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WIRELESS    CONTROL USING A DEADMAN SWITCH”);-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/204,265 filed Mar. 11, 2014, now    U.S. Pat. No. 10,265,834 (entitled “SYSTEM FOR REMOTELY CONTROLLING    AN OPERATING DEVICE”);-   U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/381,390, filed Aug.    30, 2016 (entitled “INDEXER AND USE THEREOF); and-   U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/821,433 filed May 9,    2013 (entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WIRELESS CONTROL”).

All of the above-listed patents and patent applications are incorporatedherein by reference. It will be understood that any of the water jetcleaning equipment that has been described and illustrated in the abovepatents and patent applications may be provided as part of the cleaningapparatus 22 shown in FIGS. 1-4B and may be operated via thecommunication device 32 or the communication device 44 by an operator“P” who is seated in the cab 30 d (as shown in FIG. 2A) or standingadjacent the cleaning apparatus as shown in FIG. 2B.

AS discussed above, FIG. 3A, for example, shows exemplary water jetcleaning equipment 42 may be an X-Y axis indexer that is shown anddescribed in any of the patents and patent applications identified aboveand entitled “INDEXER, INDEXER RETROFIT KIT AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF”.In particular, suitable mounting brackets 42 a (FIG. 2B) and 42 b (FIG.3A) are used to secure the arms of the X-Y indexer 42 to the supportassembly 30 g of cleaning apparatus 22. Once the X-Y indexer 42 issecured to support assembly 30 g, the operator “P” uses the desiredcommunication device 32 or 44 to move the one or more lances 46 (FIG.2A, 3A) of the indexer progressively from one opening 14 c′ in the endplate 14 c to another. The one or more lances 46 may each include anozzle thereon and a high pressure jet of cleaning fluid (such as water)is delivered through lances 46 (and nozzles engaged therewith) and intothe openings 14 c′ and bores of the tubes 14 b. As shown in FIGS. 2A and2B by the arrow “J”, each lance 46 may be advanced into the bore of theassociated heat exchanger tube 14 b to progressively shoot the cleaningfluid into the same. Lance 46 is withdrawn from the tube bore when thecleaning operation is over. The high pressure jet of fluid deliveredfrom each lance 46 scours build-up from the interior surface of the tube14 b that defines the bore thereof. In particular, water jet cleaningequipment 42 is configured to move lances 46 selectively along an X-axisand a Y-axis of a Cartesian coordinate system. The operation of the X-Yindexer and the control of the indexer and a cleaning operationtherewith via programming provided in a communication device 32, 44 hasbeen described in detail in the aforementioned incorporated patents andpatent applications and will therefore not be further described herein.

FIG. 3B shows a second exemplary embodiment of water jet cleaningequipment 142 that may be engaged with the support assembly 30 g ofcleaning apparatus 22. In this instance, the illustrated water jetcleaning equipment 142 is an example of a number of rotary cleaningdevices that may be utilized to clean tubes 14 b of heat exchanger 14using a high pressure jet of cleaning fluid delivered through lances146. The structure and method of operation of such rotary cleaningdevices 142 under the control of THE LUNCH BOX™ programming has beendescribed in detail in a number of the patents and patent applicationslisted above, particularly those entitled “ROTARY TOOL WITH SMARTINDEXER” and “ROTARY TOOL WITH SMART INDEXING”. As a consequence, suchrotary water jet cleaning equipment 142 and the control thereof will notbe further described herein. It should be noted, however, that after thewater jet cleaning equipment 142 has been secured to support assembly 30g by suitable mountings, the operator “P” may control a cleaningoperation thereof utilizing the equipment 142 either from cab 30 d usingcommunication device 32 or when standing in the general proximity of thecleaning apparatus 22 and utilizing communication device 44.

Turning now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, there is shown a second embodiment of acleaning apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure, generallyindicated at 222. The cleaning apparatus 222 is again stationaryequipment similar to cleaning apparatus 22 except that the structure ofthe frame and the method of operation of the cleaning apparatus 222differs somewhat from the frame and method of operation of the cleaningapparatus 22. Cleaning apparatus 222, like cleaning apparatus may belocated proximate a translation assembly 20 which is used to move heatexchangers 14 progressively along the length of translation assembly 20and to a cleaning location directly in front of the cleaning apparatus222 (as is shown with respect to cleaning apparatus 22 and FIG. 1).Alternatively, the translation assembly may be omitted and atransportation device 16 may deliver a heat exchanger 14 directly to thecleaning position in front of cleaning apparatus 222 similar to thesystem illustrated in FIG. 1A with respect to cleaning apparatus 22.

The cleaning apparatus 222 includes a frame 230 having a base 230 a, afixed platform 230 b that is supported a distance above base 230 a. Inparticular frame 230 has a front support assembly 230 g and a rearsupport assembly 230 g′, each of which comprises laterally spaced-apartvertical support beams 230 h, 230 h′. A cab 230 d with a control table230 e and associated seat 230 f is provided on fixed platform 230 b. Acommunication device 232 is provided as part of control station 230 e.

A movable platform 230 j is provided between fixed platform 230 b andbase 230 a. A mechanism 230 k for raising or lowering movable platform230 j is provided on front and rear support assemblies 230 g, 230 g′. Athird embodiment cleaning apparatus 242 is supported on movable platform230 j and by support assemblies 230 g, 230 g′. Platform 230 j andsupport assemblies 230 g, 230 g′ correctly position water jet cleaningequipment 242 to perform a cleaning operation on a dirty heat exchanger14 that is moved to the cleaning position in front of cleaning apparatus222. Water jet cleaning equipment 242 includes multiple lances 246 thatare positionable adjacent openings in the end plate of the heatexchanger 14 as has been previously described herein. A hose reelassembly 234 is operatively engaged with the water jet cleaningequipment 242 and with a remote cleaning fluid supply (not shown).

The water jet cleaning equipment 242 as illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4Bmay be substantially similar to the water jet cleaning equipment 242disclosed in a patent application referenced above and incorporatedherein, entitled “LANCE CLEANING SYSTEM WITH MOVABLE SUPPORT”. Becausethe structure and operation of the lance cleaning system with movablesupport has been fully described in the above-referenced patentapplication, Applicant will not further describe this water jet cleaningequipment 242 herein except to say that in equipment 242 is operativelyengaged with and operable by the programming provided in communicationdevice 32 or communication device 44. Water jet cleaning equipment 242includes a plurality of lances 246 that may be selectively extendedoutwardly for a distance beyond the support assembly 30 g and intoaligned tubes (not shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B but illustrated in FIGS. 2Aand 2B) defined in heat exchanger 14. The various components of thelance cleaning system 242 are supported by movable platform 230 j offrame 230 during operation of cleaning apparatus 222 and are stored onframe 230 when not in use.

Cleaning apparatus 222 includes various sensors that are activated andcontrolled by the special programming provided in the communicationdevice 32, 44 to accurately assist in the maneuvering of the lances 246of water jet cleaning equipment 242. To this end, cleaning apparatus 222includes a Y-axis sensor 248, an X-axis sensor 250, and a Z-axis sensor252 at are all operatively engaged with communication device 32, 44 andwith a motor that drives movement of movable platforms 230 j and a lancehead 254 that supports lances 246. In particular, movable platform 230 jand therefore lances 246 may be vertically raised or lowered asindicated by the arrows “K” and “L”, respectively in FIGS. 4A and 4B.Lance head 254 includes slider mechanism 254 a that engages platform 230j and enables lance head 254 and thereby lances 246 to be movedhorizontally to the left and right along platform 230 j as indicated bythe arrows “M” and “N”, respectively. Lances 246 may also be advancedtowards or retracted away from heat exchanger 14 as indicated by thearrow “Q”. The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis sensors provide feedback tocommunication device 32, 44 as to the positioning of lances 246 in threedimensions.

After delivery of a dirty heat exchanger 14 from the transportationdevice 16 and onto the conveyor 26 (if provided), conveyor 26 isactuated by communication device 32, 44 to travel from the input end 20a towards the output end 20 b. The conveyor 26 moves the dirty heatexchanger 14 to a cleaning position directly in front of the supportassembly 230 g of cleaning apparatus 22. The operator “P” actuates acleaning operation using programming provided in communication device 32or 44. When actuated by the specialized programming provided in thecommunication device 32 or 44, as already discussed herein, water jetcleaning equipment 242 is activated and performs the cleaning operation.The cleaned heat exchanger 14 is then moved back to plant 18 as has beendescribed earlier herein and is reinstalled in the process performed inplant 18.

It will be understood that each type of water jet cleaning equipmentdisclosed herein, i.e., cleaning equipment 42, 142, 242, may initiallybe moved through a setup procedure. In some instances, the setupprocedure is utilized to teach the programming provided in thecommunication device 32, 44 the pattern of tube openings 14 c′ definedin end plate 14 c of the heat exchanger 14 that is moved into thecleaning position in front of the cleaning apparatus. The setupprocedure that teaches the programming the pattern of any particularheat exchanger or tube bundle has been described in detail in a numberof the patents and patent applications referenced earlier herein. Thesetup procedure, the learning of the pattern of tube openings 14 c′ andthe storing of the learned pattern will therefore not described in anydetail herein. In other instances, the pattern of tube openings 14 c′ inan end plate 14 c of any particular heat exchanger 14 is provided to thecomputing device 32, 44 by entering or uploading the same.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a uniqueidentifier 14 f (FIG. 2A) of some type, such as a marking or a numberfor example, may be provided at one or more locations on each individualheat exchanger 14. The pattern of tube openings 14 c′ learned throughthe setup procedure or that is uploaded and stored in the memory of thecommunication device 32, 44 is associated in a database with the uniqueidentifier 14 f of each individual heat exchanger 14. Each time a heatexchanger 14 is moved to the cleaning position in front of the cleaningapparatus 22, 222, the unique identifier 14 f will be entered into thecommunication device 32, 44, and the associated pattern of tube openings14 c′ will be accessed from the memory of the communication device 32,44. As a consequence, the setup step is able to be omitted from thecleaning operation and this makes the cleaning operation more efficient.The identifier 14 f may be manually entered into the communicationdevice 32, 44 by the operator “P” or an optical scanner or other sensormay be provided on the cleaning apparatus 22, 222 to automatically scanthe identifier 14 f on the heat exchanger. For ease of access to theheat exchanger 14, the optical scanner may be provided at a suitablelocation on support assembly 30 g, 230 g.

Once the pattern of tube openings 14 c′ in end plate 14 c of heatexchanger 14 is either learned or accessed, the programming of thecommunication device 32, 44 is utilized to manually or automaticallyperform a cleaning operation on the heat exchanger 14. Pumps (not shown)that are operatively engaged with the water jet cleaning apparatus 42,142, 242, hose reel assembly 34, 234 and/or remote water source areactivated, cleaning fluid is provided under pressure to the associatedlances 46, 146, 246 and a high pressure jet of fluid is directed intothe bore of the heat exchanger tube 14 b with which any particular lanceis aligned. The high pressure jet of cleaning fluid blasts accumulateddebris from the inner surface of the tube 14 b. The tubes 14 b areprogressively cleaned in this fashion until all of the tubes in heatexchanger 14 are substantially free of built-up materials.

As has been disclosed in the applications that are incorporated hereinby reference, a user interface is provided on the computing device. Inone embodiment, the user interface includes a touch screen and aplurality of selectable options provided on the user interface. At leastone of the plurality of selectable options corresponds to a function tobe performed by a component of the cleaning apparatus. The operator willcontact the user interface and one or more movements of the operator'sfingertip on the at least one of the plurality of selectable options onthe touch screen controls one of the operation of the water jet cleaningapparatus and the performing of the operation with the water jetcleaning apparatus. The software provided in the computing device mayinclude programming to learn a pattern of a plurality of spaced apartopenings in the end plate of the heat exchanger. In other embodiments,software is uploaded into the computing device and the software includesthe pattern of the plurality of spaced apart openings. The software alsoincludes programming to move a nozzle of an indexer of the water jetcleaning apparatus from one of the plurality of spaced apart openings inthe pattern to another of the plurality of spaced apart openings uponthe operator's fingertip contact with one of the plurality of selectableoptions on the touch screen.

As shown in FIG. 3A, support assembly 22 includes an X-Y indexer havinga first indexer rail, a second indexer rail; and a trolley engageablewith the first indexer rail or the second indexer rail. The firstindexer rail may be a vertically oriented rail and the second indexerrail may be a horizontally oriented rail. The vertical and horizontalrails are arranged at right angles to each other. As illustrated, thetrolley is engaged with the vertically oriented rail and is operable toposition at least one nozzle (on a lance 46 provided on the trolley) todeliver a water jet therefrom and into an opening defined in the endplate 14 c. The lance 46 is operatively engaged with the supportassembly 22 via the trolley and indexer rails and is connected to aremote water source 38 (FIG. 2A). The trolley is used to position thelance 46 (and the nozzle thereon) relative to the end plate of the heatexchanger.

As shown in FIG. 3b , support assembly 22 includes water jet cleaningequipment 142 that has a rotary arm secured by a mounting plate to oneof the vertical members 30 h, 30 h′ of the support assembly 22. Lances146 are engaged on a trolley on the rotary arm. Lance 146 (by virtue ofbeing engaged on the rotary arm) has at least a first degree of freedomand a second degree of freedom relative to the support assembly 22; andthe programming in the computing device 32 or 44 is operable to controlmovement of the lance 146 relative to the support assembly 22. The firstdegree of freedom may be rotation of the lance 146 about an axisoriented at right angles to the rotary arm's mounting plate that isengaged with the support assembly 22. The second degree of freedom maybe linear motion of the lance 146 (by virtue of the trolley's movementalong the rotary arm) in one of a first direction towards the rotaryarm's mounting plate on the support assembly 22 and a second directionaway from the mounting plate on the support assembly.

Once the water jet cleaning equipment 42 has cleaned the heat exchangertubes, the cleaned heat exchanger 14 is then advanced by the conveyormechanism 26 away from in front of the cleaning apparatus 22, 222 andtoward the output end 20 b of the translation assembly 20. The gantrycrane adjacent the output end 20 b of the translation assembly 20 usesthe hitch 28 to lift the cleaned heat exchanger 14 from the conveyormechanism 26 and onto transportation device 16. The transportationdevice 16 moves in the direction of arrow ‘E’ (FIGS. 1, 1A) towards theplant 18. The cleaned heat exchanger 14 is lifted off the transportationdevice 16 and is moved in the direction “F” back into the plant 18 whereit is re-installed into its use-position to continue performing itsfunction in the plant

It will be understood that while in the first embodiment of the cleaningsystem 10, a translation assembly 20 is provided that progressivelymoves the heat exchangers 14 offloaded from the transportation device 16to a cleaning position in front of the support assembly 30 g of thecleaning apparatus 22, in other embodiments, the translation assembly 20will simply comprise two spaced apart rails 24 a, 24 b that support theheat exchangers 14. No conveyor 26 is provided in this instance. Theplurality of heat exchangers 14 are offloaded onto the rails 24 a, 24 band are placed at spaced-apart intervals relative to each other and in acorrect orientation to be cleaned. A movable cleaning apparatus (i.e., acleaning apparatus 22, 222 on wheels or tracks) is then selectivelymoved parallel to the longitudinal axes of the rails 24 a, 24 b. Themovable cleaning apparatus will be progressively moved to in front ofeach of the spaced-apart heat exchangers supported on the rails 24 a, 24b. A cleaning operation is initiated using the computing device 32, 44when the water jet cleaning equipment provided on the cleaning apparatusis in the correct position to perform the cleaning operation. In thisalternative embodiment, the cleaning apparatus may be slidably mountedon rails that are parallel to the rails 24 a, 24 b and the programmingin the computing device 32, 44 will automatically move the cleaningapparatus from one pre-set position to the next to perform a cleaningoperation.

It will be understood that the cleaning fluid provided by the remotewater or cleaning fluid source and utilized by cleaning apparatus 22,222 may be water or it may be any other suitable type of cleaning fluidknown in the art. The water-jet cleaning equipment may therefore delivera high pressure jet of water or a high pressure jet of any othersuitable cleaning fluid during a cleaning operation.

It will further be understood that the cleaning operation may beperformed under manual control of the operator “P” through theoperator's interaction with a user interface of the computing device 32,44, as has been described in the various patents and patent applicationsincorporated herein by reference.

It will further be understood that in other instances, the cleaningoperation may be automatically after initiation of the programming bythe operator “P” interacting with a user interface of the computingdevice 32, 44, as has been described in the various patents and patentapplications incorporated herein by reference.

In summary, a method of cleaning tubes 14 b of a heat exchanger 14 inaccordance with the present disclosure comprises disengaging a dirtyheat exchanger 14 (or a dirty tube bundle and end plate) from ause-position in a process or a plant 18. The term “dirty” is used todescribe a heat exchanger 14 that has sufficient build-up on theinterior surfaces of the tubes 14 b that defines the bores therein thatthe heat exchanger 14 needs to be cleaned using high pressure jets ofcleaning fluid.) The method further includes moving the dirty heatexchanger 14 or the dirty tube bundle to a cleaning station 12 that islocated remote from the use-position in the plant 18. In other words,heat exchanger 14 or the tube bundle is not cleaned in situ at its inuse-position in the plant or process. The method further includespositioning the dirty heat exchanger 14 or the tube bundle in front of acleaning apparatus 22 at the cleaning station 12; providing water jetcleaning equipment 42 on a support assembly 30 g of the cleaningapparatus 22; responding to programming in a computing device 32, 44 andcontrolling the water jet cleaning equipment 42 and a cleaning operationusing the water jet cleaning equipment 42 with the programming;providing a pattern of tube openings 14 c defined in an end plate 14 cof the dirty heat exchanger 14 or the dirty tube bundle to the computingdevice 32, 44. An exemplary pattern of the openings 14 c to the tubes 14b of the heat exchanger 14 is shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Various otherpatterns of tube openings in end plates of heat exchangers are shown anddescribed in the various patents and patent applications incorporatedherein by reference. The pattern may be learned by the computing deviceand stored in the memory thereof or the pattern may be uploaded orotherwise given to the computing device. The programming is configuredto follow the learned or uploaded pattern during the performing of thecleaning operation. The method in accordance with the present disclosurefurther includes actuating the water jet cleaning equipment 42 with thecomputing device 32, 44 (when the operator “P” is sitting in the cab 30d of the cleaning apparatus 22 or is standing in the general proximityof the cleaning apparatus 22. It will be understood the operator “P” isable to control the water jet cleaning equipment 22 and all other piecesof equipment that move the heat exchanger 14 or tube bundle into thecorrect position and/or that make the water jet cleaning equipment 22capable of performing a cleaning operation using the computing device32, 44. It will further be understood that in other instances, insteadof the operator “P” being located on cleaning apparatus 22 or in thevicinity thereof, the operator “P” may be located a distance away fromthe cleaning apparatus 22 and/or the plant and will utilize the sameLUNCH BOX™ programming in a computing device to control the variouspieces of equipment and the cleaning operation. The method in accordancewith the present disclosure further includes performing a cleaningoperation of the heat exchanger 14 or the tube bundle with the water jetcleaning equipment 22 under the control of the programming of thecomputing device 32, 44 and by following the provided pattern of tubeopenings 14 c′.

The method further comprises moving the cleaned heat exchanger 14 or thecleaned tube bundle from the cleaning station 12 back to theuse-position at the plant or process 18; and reengaging the heatexchanger 14 or the tube bundle in the use-position in the process orthe plant 18. The cleaning operation is performed either under manualcontrol of an operator “P” through interaction with the computing device32, 44 or the cleaning operation is automatically performed afterinitiation of the programming in the computing device 32, 44 by anoperator “P” interacting with the computing device 32, 44.

The moving of the dirty heat exchanger 14 or the dirty tube bundle fromthe process or plant 18 to the cleaning station 12 includes placing theheat exchanger 14 or the tube bundle on a transportation device 16; andmoving the transportation device from the process or plant 18 to thecleaning station 12. The moving of the heat exchanger 14 or the tubebundle from the process or plant 18 to the cleaning station 12 furthercomprises moving the heat exchanger 14 or the tube bundle from thetransportation device 16 to a translation assembly 20; activating thetranslation assembly 20; and moving the heat exchanger 14 or the tubebundle with the translation assembly 20 from an input end 20 a of thetranslation assembly 20 to a location directly in front of the cleaningapparatus 22.

In the method, the providing of the pattern of tube openings 14 c′ inthe end plate 14 c includes learning, with the programming provided inthe computing device 32, 44, the pattern of tube openings 14 c′ definedin the end plate 14 c of the heat exchanger 14 or the tube bundle. Thelearning is followed by storing, in a memory of the computing device 32,44, the learned pattern of tube openings 14 c′.

The method according to the present disclosure may also includeproviding a unique identifier 14 f on the heat exchanger 14 or the tubebundle; associating the pattern of tube openings 14 c′ with the uniqueidentifier 14 f; and storing, in a memory of the computing device 32,44,the associated pattern of tube openings 14 c′ and the unique identifier14 f. The method according to the present disclosure may also includedisengaging the heat exchanger 14 or the tube bundle with the uniqueidentifier 14 f from the process or plant 18 at a later time period;moving the heat exchanger 14 or the tube bundle with the uniqueidentifier 14 f from the process or plant 18 to the cleaning apparatus22; entering the unique identifier 14 f into a user interface (e.g.touchscreen) of the computing device 32, 44; retrieving the storedpattern of tube openings 14 c′ associated with the unique identifier 14f from the memory of the computing device 32, 44; and performing asecond cleaning operation of the heat exchanger 14 or tube bundle byfollowing the retrieved pattern of tube openings 14 c′ with a lance 46of the water jet cleaning equipment 42.

The method according to the present disclosure may also include cleaninga plurality of different heat exchangers 14 or the tube bundles at thecleaning station 12; providing the pattern of tube openings 14 c′ foreach of the plurality of different heat exchangers 14 or the tubebundles to the computing device 32, 44; associating a different andunique identifier (such as unique identifier 14 f) with each one of theplurality of different heat exchangers 14 or tube bundles; 3storing, inthe memory of the computing device 32, 44, the associated different andunique identifiers (such as unique identifier 14 f) with a differentprovided pattern of tube openings 14 c′; providing the unique identifierfor a particular one of the plurality of different heat exchangers 14 ortube bundles to the computing device 32, 44; retrieving the associatedpattern of tube openings 14 c′ from the memory of the computing device32, 44; and performing the cleaning operation utilizing the retrievedpattern of tube openings 14 c′.

The providing of the unique identifier 14 f to the computing device 32,44 includes one of entering the unique identifier 14 f into a userinterface (such as a touchscreen) of the computing device 32, 44 andscanning the unique identifier 14 f provided on an exterior surface ofthe heat exchanger 14 or the tube bundle.

Various inventive concepts may be embodied as one or more methods, ofwhich an example has been provided. The acts performed as part of themethod may be ordered in any suitable way. Accordingly, embodiments maybe constructed in which acts are performed in an order different thanillustrated, which may include performing some acts simultaneously, eventhough shown as sequential acts in illustrative embodiments.

While various inventive embodiments have been described and illustratedherein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision avariety of other means and/or structures for performing the functionand/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantagesdescribed herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications isdeemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments describedherein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciatethat all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations describedherein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters,dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon thespecific application or applications for which the inventive teachingsis/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able toascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalentsto the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is,therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presentedby way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claimsand equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practicedotherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventiveembodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individualfeature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein.In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems,articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems,articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent,is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure.

The above-described embodiments can be implemented in any of numerousways. For example, embodiments of technology disclosed herein may beimplemented using hardware, software, or a combination thereof. Whenimplemented in software, the software code or instructions can beexecuted on any suitable processor or collection of processors, whetherprovided in a single computing device or distributed among multiplecomputing devices. Furthermore, the instructions or software code can bestored in at least one non-transitory computing device readable storagemedium.

Also, a computing device or smartphone utilized to execute the softwarecode or instructions via its processors may have one or more input andoutput devices. These devices can be used, among other things, topresent a user interface. Examples of output devices that can be used toprovide a user interface include printers or display screens for visualpresentation of output and speakers or other sound generating devicesfor audible presentation of output. Examples of input devices that canbe used for a user interface include keyboards, and pointing devices,such as mice, touch pads, and digitizing tablets. As another example, acomputing device may receive input information through speechrecognition or in other audible format.

Such computing devices or smartphones may be interconnected by one ormore networks in any suitable form, including a local area network or awide area network, such as an enterprise network, and intelligentnetwork (IN) or the Internet. Such networks may be based on any suitabletechnology and may operate according to any suitable protocol and mayinclude wireless networks, wired networks or fiber optic networks.

The various methods or processes outlined herein may be coded assoftware/instructions that is executable on one or more processors thatemploy any one of a variety of operating systems or platforms.Additionally, such software may be written using any of a number ofsuitable programming languages and/or programming or scripting tools,and also may be compiled as executable machine language code orintermediate code that is executed on a framework or virtual machine.

In this respect, various inventive concepts may be embodied as acomputing device readable storage medium (or multiple computing devicereadable storage media) (e.g., a computing device memory, one or morefloppy discs, compact discs, optical discs, magnetic tapes, flashmemories, USB flash drives, SD cards, circuit configurations in FieldProgrammable Gate Arrays or other semiconductor devices, or othernon-transitory medium or tangible computing device storage medium)encoded with one or more programs that, when executed on one or morecomputing devices or other processors, perform methods that implementthe various embodiments of the disclosure discussed above. The computingdevice readable medium or media can be transportable, such that theprogram or programs stored thereon can be loaded onto one or moredifferent computing devices or other processors to implement variousaspects of the present disclosure as discussed above.

The terms “program” or “software” or “instructions” are used herein in ageneric sense to refer to any type of computing device code or set ofcomputing device-executable instructions that can be employed to programa computing device or other processor to implement various aspects ofembodiments as discussed above. Additionally, it should be appreciatedthat according to one aspect, one or more computing device programs thatwhen executed perform methods of the present disclosure need not resideon a single computing device or processor, but may be distributed in amodular fashion amongst a number of different computing devices orprocessors to implement various aspects of the present disclosure.

Computing device-executable instructions may be in many forms, such asprogram modules, executed by one or more computing devices or otherdevices. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects,components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks orimplement particular abstract data types. Typically the functionality ofthe program modules may be combined or distributed as desired in variousembodiments.

Also, data structures may be stored in computing device-readable mediain any suitable form. For simplicity of illustration, data structuresmay be shown to have fields that are related through location in thedata structure. Such relationships may likewise be achieved by assigningstorage for the fields with locations in a computing device-readablemedium that convey relationship between the fields. However, anysuitable mechanism may be used to establish a relationship betweeninformation in fields of a data structure, including through the use ofpointers, tags or other mechanisms that establish relationship betweendata elements.

All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood tocontrol over dictionary definitions, definitions in documentsincorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the definedterms.

“Logic”, as used herein, includes but is not limited to hardware,firmware, software, and/or combinations of each to perform a function(s)or an action(s), and/or to cause a function or action from anotherlogic, method, and/or system. For example, based on a desiredapplication or needs, logic may include a software controlledmicroprocessor, discrete logic like a processor (e.g., microprocessor),an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmed logicdevice, a memory device containing instructions, an electric devicehaving a memory, or the like. Logic may include one or more gates,combinations of gates, or other circuit components. Logic may also befully embodied as software. Where multiple logics are described, it maybe possible to incorporate the multiple logics into one physical logic.Similarly, where a single logic is described, it may be possible todistribute that single logic between multiple physical logics.

Furthermore, the logic(s) presented herein for accomplishing variousmethods of this system may be directed towards improvements in existingcomputing device-centric or internet-centric technology that may nothave previous analog versions. The logic(s) may provide specificfunctionality directly related to structure that addresses and resolvessome problems identified herein. The logic(s) may also providesignificantly more advantages to solve these problems by providing anexemplary inventive concept as specific logic structure and concordantfunctionality of the method and system. Furthermore, the logic(s) mayalso provide specific computing device implemented rules that improve onexisting technological processes. The logic(s) provided herein extendsbeyond merely gathering data, analyzing the information, and displayingthe results. Further, portions or all of the present disclosure may relyon underlying equations that are derived from the specific arrangementof the equipment or components as recited herein. Thus, portions of thepresent disclosure as it relates to the specific arrangement of thecomponents are not directed to abstract ideas. Furthermore, the presentdisclosure and the appended claims present teachings that involve morethan performance of well-understood, routine, and conventionalactivities previously known to the industry. In some of the method orprocess of the present disclosure, which may incorporate some aspects ofnatural phenomenon, the process or method steps are additional featuresthat are new and useful.

The articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and inthe claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should beunderstood to mean “at least one.” The phrase “and/or,” as used hereinin the specification and in the claims (if at all), should be understoodto mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elementsthat are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively presentin other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should beconstrued in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements soconjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than theelements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether relatedor unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as anon-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used inconjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, inone embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B);in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements otherthan A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionallyincluding other elements); etc. As used herein in the specification andin the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as“and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list,“or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., theinclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a numberor list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Onlyterms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or“exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” willrefer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list ofelements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only beinterpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the otherbut not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,”“one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.” “Consisting essentiallyof,” when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used inthe field of patent law.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “atleast one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should beunderstood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more ofthe elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including atleast one of each and every element specifically listed within the listof elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the listof elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally bepresent other than the elements specifically identified within the listof elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether relatedor unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as anon-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “atleast one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) canrefer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including morethan one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements otherthan B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally includingmore than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elementsother than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionallyincluding more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including morethan one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.

When a feature or element is herein referred to as being “on” anotherfeature or element, it can be directly on the other feature or elementor intervening features and/or elements may also be present. Incontrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being “directlyon” another feature or element, there are no intervening features orelements present. It will also be understood that, when a feature orelement is referred to as being “connected”, “attached” or “coupled” toanother feature or element, it can be directly connected, attached orcoupled to the other feature or element or intervening features orelements may be present. In contrast, when a feature or element isreferred to as being “directly connected”, “directly attached” or“directly coupled” to another feature or element, there are nointervening features or elements present. Although described or shownwith respect to one embodiment, the features and elements so describedor shown can apply to other embodiments. It will also be appreciated bythose of skill in the art that references to a structure or feature thatis disposed “adjacent” another feature may have portions that overlap orunderlie the adjacent feature.

Spatially relative terms, such as “under”, “below”, “lower”, “over”,“upper”, “above”, “behind”, “in front of”, and the like, may be usedherein for ease of description to describe one element or feature'srelationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in thefigures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms areintended to encompass different orientations of the device in use oroperation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. Forexample, if a device in the figures is inverted, elements described as“under” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented“over” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “under”can encompass both an orientation of over and under. The device may beotherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and thespatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.Similarly, the terms “upwardly”, “downwardly”, “vertical”, “horizontal”,“lateral”, “transverse”, “longitudinal”, and the like are used hereinfor the purpose of explanation only unless specifically indicatedotherwise.

Although the terms “first” and “second” may be used herein to describevarious features/elements, these features/elements should not be limitedby these terms, unless the context indicates otherwise. These terms maybe used to distinguish one feature/element from another feature/element.Thus, a first feature/element discussed herein could be termed a secondfeature/element, and similarly, a second feature/element discussedherein could be termed a first feature/element without departing fromthe teachings of the present invention.

An embodiment is an implementation or example of the present disclosure.Reference in the specification to “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,”“some embodiments,” “one particular embodiment,” “an exemplaryembodiment,” or “other embodiments,” or the like, means that aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connectionwith the embodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but notnecessarily all embodiments, of the invention. The various appearances“an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “one particularembodiment,” “an exemplary embodiment,” or “other embodiments,” or thelike, are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiments.

If this specification states a component, feature, structure, orcharacteristic “may”, “might”, or “could” be included, that particularcomponent, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to beincluded. If the specification or claim refers to “a” or “an” element,that does not mean there is only one of the element. If thespecification or claims refer to “an additional” element, that does notpreclude there being more than one of the additional element.

As used herein in the specification and claims, including as used in theexamples and unless otherwise expressly specified, all numbers may beread as if prefaced by the word “about” or “approximately,” even if theterm does not expressly appear. The phrase “about” or “approximately”may be used when describing magnitude and/or position to indicate thatthe value and/or position described is within a reasonable expectedrange of values and/or positions. For example, a numeric value may havea value that is +/−0. % of the stated value (or range of values), +/−1%of the stated value (or range of values), +/−2% of the stated value (orrange of values), +/−5% of the stated value (or range of values), +/−10%of the stated value (or range of values), etc. Any numerical rangerecited herein is intended to include all sub-ranges subsumed therein.

Additionally, the method of performing the present disclosure may occurin a sequence different than those described herein. Accordingly, nosequence of the method should be read as a limitation unless explicitlystated. It is recognizable that performing some of the steps of themethod in a different order could achieve a similar result.

In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitionalphrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,”“containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are tobe understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limitedto. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consistingessentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases,respectively.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because suchterms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadlyconstrued.

Moreover, the description and illustration of various embodiments of thedisclosure are examples and the disclosure is not limited to the exactdetails shown or described.

What is claimed:
 1. A method of cleaning tubes of a heat exchangercomprising: disengaging a heat exchanger or a tube bundle from ause-position in a process or a plant; moving the heat exchanger or thetube bundle to a cleaning station remote from the use-position;positioning the heat exchanger or the tube bundle in front of a cleaningapparatus at the cleaning station; providing water jet cleaningequipment on a support assembly of the cleaning apparatus; responding toprogramming in a computing device and controlling the water jet cleaningequipment and a cleaning operation using the water jet cleaningequipment; providing a pattern of tube openings defined in an end plateof the heat exchanger or the tube bundle to the computing device;actuating the water jet cleaning equipment with the computing device;and performing a cleaning operation of the heat exchanger or the tubebundle with the water jet cleaning equipment under control of theprogramming of the computing device and by following the providedpattern of tube openings.
 2. The method according to claim 1, whereinthe providing of the pattern of tube openings includes: learning, withthe programming provided in the computing device, the pattern of tubeopenings defined in the end plate of the heat exchanger or the tubebundle.
 3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising: storing,in a memory of the computing device, the learned pattern of tubeopenings.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the providing ofthe pattern of tube openings includes uploading the pattern of tubeopenings to the computing device.
 5. The method according to claim 1,further comprising: moving a cleaned heat exchanger or cleaned tubebundle from the cleaning station back to the use-position; andreengaging the heat exchanger or the tube bundle in the use-position inthe process or the plant.
 6. The method according to claim 1, whereinthe cleaning operation is performed under manual control of an operatorthrough interaction with the computing device.
 7. The method accordingto claim 1, wherein the cleaning operation is automatically performedafter initiation of the programming by an operator interacting with thecomputing device.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the movingof the heat exchanger or the tube bundle from the process or plant tothe cleaning station includes: placing the heat exchanger or the tubebundle on a transportation device; and moving the transportation devicefrom the process or plant to the cleaning station.
 9. The methodaccording to claim 8, wherein the moving of the heat exchanger or thetube bundle from the process or plant to the cleaning station furthercomprises: moving the heat exchanger or the tube bundle from thetransportation device to a translation assembly; activating thetranslation assembly; and moving the heat exchanger or the tube bundlewith the translation assembly from an input end of the translationassembly to a location directly in front of the cleaning apparatus. 10.The method according to claim 1, further comprising: providing a uniqueidentifier on the heat exchanger or the tube bundle; associating thepattern of tube openings with the unique identifier; storing, in amemory of the computing device, the associated pattern of tube openingsand the unique identifier.
 11. The method according to claim 10, furthercomprising: disengaging the heat exchanger or the tube bundle with theunique identifier from the process or plant at a later time period;moving the heat exchanger or the tube bundle with the unique identifierfrom the process or plant to the cleaning apparatus; entering the uniqueidentifier into the computing device; retrieving the stored pattern oftube openings associated with the unique identifier from the memory ofthe computing device; performing a second cleaning operation byfollowing the retrieved pattern of tube openings with a lance of thewater jet cleaning equipment.
 12. The method according to claim 1,further comprising: cleaning a plurality of different heat exchangers orthe tube bundles at the cleaning station; providing the pattern of tubeopenings for each of the plurality of different heat exchangers or thetube bundles to the computing device; associating a different and uniqueidentifier with each one of the plurality of different heat exchangersor tube bundles; storing, in a memory of the computing device, theassociated different and unique identifiers with a different providedpattern of tube openings; providing the unique identifier to thecomputing device; retrieving the pattern of tube openings from thememory of the computing device; and performing the cleaning operationutilizing the retrieved pattern of tube openings.
 13. The methodaccording to claim 12, wherein the providing of the unique identifier tothe computing device includes one of entering the unique identifier intoa user interface of the computing device and scanning the uniqueidentifier provided on an exterior surface of the heat exchanger or thetube bundle.
 14. A cleaning station for cleaning heat exchanger or tubebundles comprising: a cleaning apparatus provided at a location remotefrom a heat exchanger or a tube bundle that is to be cleaned, whereinthe cleaning apparatus includes: a support assembly; water jet cleaningequipment substantially permanently mounted on the support assembly,wherein said water jet cleaning equipment is adapted to be operativelyengaged with a supply of cleaning fluid, and wherein said water jetcleaning equipment is configured to deliver a high pressure jet ofcleaning fluid therefrom; and a computing device provided withprogramming to control the water jet cleaning equipment and to control aperformance of a cleaning operation with the water jet cleaningequipment; wherein the programming of the computing device is adapted tocontrol the cleaning operation of the heat exchanger or the tube bundleonce the heat exchanger or the tube bundle has been moved from theremote location to proximate the cleaning apparatus.
 15. The cleaningstation according to claim 14, wherein the programming of the computingdevice is configured to learn a pattern of tube openings to tubesprovided in the heat exchanger or the tube bundle and to control a lanceof the water jet cleaning equipment to follow the learned pattern oftube openings.
 16. The cleaning station according to claim 14, furthercomprising a pattern of tube openings to tubes in the heat exchanger orthe tube bundle provided to or stored in the computing device, whereinthe programming of the computing device is configured to control a lanceof the water jet cleaning equipment to follow the provided or storedpattern.
 17. The cleaning station according to claim 14, wherein theprogramming in the computing device is configured to move a lance of thewater jet cleaning equipment along one or both of an X-axis and aY-axis.
 18. The cleaning station according to claim 14, wherein theprogramming in the computing device is configured to move a lance of thewater jet cleaning equipment along a rotary path.
 19. The cleaningstation according to claim 14, wherein the programming in the computingdevice is configured to move a lance of the water jet cleaning equipmentalong one or more of an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis.
 20. The cleaningstation according to claim 14, further comprising: a user interfaceprovided on the computing device; wherein the user interface includes atouch screen; and a plurality of selectable options provided on the userinterface, wherein at least one of the plurality of selectable optionscorresponds to a function to be performed by a component of the waterjet cleaning apparatus; and wherein one or more movements of a fingertipof a human operator on the at least one of the plurality of selectableoptions on the touch screen controls one of the cleaning operation ofthe water jet cleaning apparatus and the performing of the cleaningoperation with the water jet cleaning apparatus; wherein the programmingis configured to learn a pattern of a plurality of spaced apart openingsin an end plate of a heat exchanger; and wherein the programming isconfigured to move a nozzle of an indexer from one of the plurality ofspaced apart openings in the pattern to another of the plurality ofspaced apart openings upon fingertip contact with one of the pluralityof selectable options on the touch screen.
 21. The cleaning stationaccording to claim 14, wherein the support assembly includes an X-Yindexer having a first indexer rail, a second indexer rail; and atrolley engageable with the first indexer rail or the second indexerrail; wherein the trolley positions at least one nozzle of the water jetcleaning equipment relative to an end plate of a heat exchanger.
 22. Thecleaning station according to claim 21, wherein the first indexer railand the second indexer rail are oriented at right angles to one another.23. The cleaning station according to claim 14, further comprising: alance operatively engaged with the support assembly and adapted to beconnected to a remote water source; wherein the lance has at least afirst degree of freedom and a second degree of freedom relative to thesupport assembly; and wherein the programming in the computing device isoperable to control movement of the lance relative to the supportassembly.
 24. The cleaning station according to claim 23, wherein thefirst degree of freedom is rotation of the lance about an axis orientedat right angles to a mounting plate secured to the support assembly. 25.The cleaning station according to claim 24, wherein the second degree offreedom is linear motion of the lance in one of a first directiontowards the mounting plate and a second direction away from the mountingplate.
 26. A system for cleaning one or more heat exchangers or tubebundles, said system comprising: a cleaning station provided at alocation remote from a plant or process utilizing the one or more heatexchangers or tube bundles; a cleaning apparatus provided at thecleaning station, said cleaning apparatus comprising: a supportassembly; water jet cleaning equipment substantially permanently mountedon the support assembly, wherein said water jet cleaning equipment isadapted to be operatively engaged with a supply of cleaning fluid, andwherein said water jet cleaning equipment is configured to deliver ahigh pressure jet of cleaning fluid therefrom; and a computing deviceprovided with programming to control the water jet cleaning equipmentand to control a performance of a cleaning operation using the water jetcleaning equipment; and at least one transportation device configured tomove the one or more heat exchangers or tube bundles from the remotelocation to the cleaning station, and, after the cleaning operation hasbeen performed, to move the one or more multiple heat exchangers back tothe remote location.
 27. The system according to claim 26, furthercomprising: a pattern of tube openings defined in an end plate of eachof the one or more heat exchangers and tube bundles provided to thecomputing device; wherein the programming controls the performance ofthe cleaning operation by moving one or more lances of the water jetequipment according to the pattern of tube openings.
 28. The systemaccording to claim 26, wherein the programming in the computing deviceis configured to move a lance of the water jet cleaning equipment alongone or both of an X-axis and a Y-axis.
 29. The system according to claim26, wherein the programming in the computing device is configured tomove a lance of the water jet cleaning equipment along a rotary path.30. The system according to claim 26, wherein the programming in thecomputing device is configured to move a lance of the water jet cleaningequipment along one or more of an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis.